GSU Student Material

2010-05-07 Match Play/Answer

It's best to make your opponent's 5 point. If you don't White is surely going to attack you and try to counter-prime and there is a reasonable chance that he may do this. If he fails and gets hit, he could get into a reasonably well-timed back game. By making his 5 point you are prevent this and you still have an excellent chance to make a 5 prime on the other side of the board if you don't get hit off the 9 point. And if you get hit off the 9 point, you still have one of White's checkers trapped and you have his 5 point as an important anchor on White's side of the board.

Don't feel bad if you missed this one. I missed it, and I showed it to several world class players who also got it wrong.